Ball Bearing Turbos

[JCotton]

I just pulled this off of the T netics website...

A turbocharger must live in order to win! This statement is the driving force that inspired TURBONETICS to pursue an alternative to conventional turbocharger bearing design. The result of that effort is
TURBONETICS’ unique patented Ceramic Ball-Bearing concept that has essentially eliminated any concern of turbocharger durability in high performance applications. The heart of this concept is a NASA inspired angular ball-bearing fitted with almost indestructible ceramic balls. The thrust capacity of this design is rated at over 50 times greater than conventional turbocharger thrust bearings!

The proven success of this concept is evidenced by its overwhelming use in high-performance competition today. Equally important is the unique use of a single ball bearing instead of two - the decision to retain a conventional shaft bearing on the turbine end was made as a result of computerized model analysis of the high-speed rotordynamics of the rotating turbocharger.By retaining the bushing-style turbine-end bearing, it acts as a shock absorber and dampens the critical frequencies that typically plague dual-bearing designs used by other manufacturers. As a result, only turbochargers equipped with the TURBONETICS Ceramic Ball-Bearing design have no destructive critical frequencies over their full operating range! No other ball-bearing design can make this claim! Faster response, extreme durability, and unsurpassed quality all combine to make the TURBONETICS Ceramic Ball-Bearing concept the standard of excellence for the ultimate in high-performance turbocharging!

 

[Pronto]

So from that I see they are ceramic. I can vouch for the strength of the new space age ceramics out there now. Turbonetics then uses the bushing style to act as a shock absorber. Are the frequencies from the different sized rotors on the same shaft? Spinning at the speeds they do I can see how any little discrepancy in balance would be amplified to a destructive stage.

 

[Russ Merritt]

Looking back and talking to other Innovative dual BB turbo owners, I would hook up the water no matter what the application race/street. I have my 71X back, all rebuilt with a new X-trim wheel/bearings. It is going back on my street car with the new engine, hooked to water with braided lines and Russell hose ends. It did spool really well and I had the car running the best ever with it on there. I think everthing will be fine with it water cooled and when I'm done with the install, I really won't want to sell her....

 

[salvageV6]

Here's mine on my daily.

Water cooled and oil filtered.

I think the water also is there to help with coking/cooking of the oil after shutdown also since it's in the exhaust side bearing as well.

Cost me under $20 to use heater hose to cool it with NPT fittings and a couple of T adapters. Easy to install as well simply by moving the heater water valve which in this case is an aftermarket plastic NAPA one.

I am sure Russ' idea will look better and more professional.

http://a1.cpimg.com/image/CB/9B/25320651-2273-028001E0-.jpg

http://a6.cpimg.com/image/0A/E7/25029386-c984-028001E0-.jpg

http://a7.cpimg.com/image/11/DF/25029137-91a4-028001E0-.jpg

 

[49-blues]

Any info on the 71X turbo anywhere and what size water fittings are necessary on the turbo bearings for cooling? Is it a 5/8" or 3/4" hose fitting like the heater lines ? Also what kind of stall is necessary for a 71X turbo?

 

[JZ 97 SS 1500]

That is the correct response as to why single BB over Dbb is used. Heat is not an issue. Its soley based on the natural effects of gryoscoping. Rotors at high blade speeds always rotate around a central axis. If their is no movement in the bearing structure, then their is failure.

I just pulled this off of the T netics website...

A turbocharger must live in order to win! This statement is the driving force that inspired TURBONETICS to pursue an alternative to conventional turbocharger bearing design. The result of that effort is
TURBONETICS’ unique patented Ceramic Ball-Bearing concept that has essentially eliminated any concern of turbocharger durability in high performance applications. The heart of this concept is a NASA inspired angular ball-bearing fitted with almost indestructible ceramic balls. The thrust capacity of this design is rated at over 50 times greater than conventional turbocharger thrust bearings!

The proven success of this concept is evidenced by its overwhelming use in high-performance competition today. Equally important is the unique use of a single ball bearing instead of two - the decision to retain a conventional shaft bearing on the turbine end was made as a result of computerized model analysis of the high-speed rotordynamics of the rotating turbocharger.By retaining the bushing-style turbine-end bearing, it acts as a shock absorber and dampens the critical frequencies that typically plague dual-bearing designs used by other manufacturers. As a result, only turbochargers equipped with the TURBONETICS Ceramic Ball-Bearing design have no destructive critical frequencies over their full operating range! No other ball-bearing design can make this claim! Faster response, extreme durability, and unsurpassed quality all combine to make the TURBONETICS Ceramic Ball-Bearing concept the standard of excellence for the ultimate in high-performance turbocharging!

 

[salvageV6]

Water fittings are 5/8" hose for feed and 3/4" hose for drain on my car, same as off the water heater valve.


I think Innovative has minimized those critical frequencies in their dual BB bearing cartridge setup.

Haven't seen any plagues regarding them on the internet.

Heck after all these years some builders can't get conventional bearings on both sides right for our cars.